Improvement in station-indicators



UNTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

F. J. UNDERWOOD, OF SOUTH HARD'WICK, VERMONT.

IMPROVEMENT INV STATION-IN DICATOPIS.

Speciiication forming part of Letters Patent No. 4],653, dated February 16, 1864.

[o all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, F. J. UNDERwooD, of South Hardwick, in the county of Caledonia and State ot' Vermont, haveinvented a new and Improved Stationlndicator; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figurel represents a plan or top view of my invention. Fig. 2 is an end view of' the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section of the same. v

Similar letters of reference in the three views indicate corresponding parts.

The object of this invention is an improvement in that class of indicators which are intended to be put up in railroad-cars running on open roads or in the streets ot' a city, and

. which enable the conductor or any other person having charge of the car, simply by pulling a cord, to bring the name of the station which the ear, approaches or passes at any moment before the eyes of thc passengers.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to ,describe it..

A represents a box, made of wood or any other suitable material. This box forms the bearings for the axles b o o'of three rollers, B O O, and a strip, D, of cloth or other suitable material,is secured, with one end to the roller G and with the other to the roller G', being wound a number of times round each of these rollers and drawn over the roller B, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 ofthe drawings. Additional rollers, E E', insure the proper tension ot' the strip and the rotation of all the rollers.

The names of the diierent stations or streets to be passed by'the car are printed or otherwise marked on the strip D, and an opening, d, in the case over the roller B, exposes one of these names to the view of the passen gers in the car. By rotating the rollers B G C the several names maybe successively brought opposite the aperture d.

E* is a toothedwheel, which is rmly secured to the end of the axle b of the roller B,

and a lever, F, turns loosely on said axle. This lever carries a paw] or dog, f, which catches into the teeth ot' the wheel Et, so that by moving the lever F in the direction of the arrow marked on it in Fig. 2 motion is imparted to the rollers B C C.

The lever F is operated by a cord, Gr, which passes through a loop, g, and which is secured to a spring, H. This cord is intended to run in either direction throughout the entire length of the car, and by pulling it in the direction ofthe arrow marked near it in Fig. 2, the wheel E is rotated in the direction of the arrow marked on it in the same tgure. By pulling the cord in the direction opposite to the arrow marked near it in Fig. 2, the spring H is brought into action, and on releasing the cord the wheel E is turned by the action of the spring` on the lever F.

The rollers C C are provided with spiral springs I I', secured to the ends of their axles in such a manner that each of said rollers is exposed to aI continuous strain in the direction ot the arrows marked on them in Fig. 3, and thereby the strip D is kept taut.

Ihe case A is intended to be put up inside of a car in such a place that the aperture d in its top is visible to the passengers, and the cord G extends to the platform or platforms of the car. At each station or street-corner the conductor or other person having charge of the car pulls the cord, the strip is rotated, and a new name is brought before the aperture d. The passengers in the car are thus enabled at any moment to see where they are, and much anxietyand trouble can thereby be avoided.

` What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The rollers B C C', with springs I I, wheel E, lever F, and pawl j', cord G, and spring H,

all arranged and operating in combination with the case A, in the manner and for the purpose substantially as speciiied.

F. J. UN DERWOOD.

Witnesses:

' J. T. BRIDGMAN,

A. T. WAY. 

